Returning from my summer hiatus

· September 22, 2015

22

September 2015

We are back from our summer publishing hiatus. There has been much to write about. I have stayed active on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter @DanRDimicco. I have been on the speaking tour discussing my book "American Made- Why making things will return us to greatness". The reception from thousands to the message has been great and we sold lots of books (my profits of which are going to Veterans). The speaking tour continues the rest of the year and into next.

Unfortunately the message of anemic economic growth of 2% since 2000; job creation that is 10-12 million jobs behind the earlier recession/recoveries of 1974, 1982, 1990; the failure of 'Free Trade' which has given us an accumulated trade deficit of $11 Trillion and growing; stagnant wages; a suffering/shrinking Middle America; increasing wealth disparity, etc., are all still with us. All this is a result of a failed economic model based on Services taken to an extreme and the loss of our Manufacturing sector/capability. While some organizations like NAM, BRT, and the US Chamber, like to say our manufacturing sector is healthy and strong and experiencing record revenues, the truth is that Manufacturing has shrunk from 25% of GDP to 10% of GDP over the last 30 years. Over 57,000 manufacturing operations have been closed and over 5 million mfg jobs lost. This has had huge negative effects on our Military Strength and our National Security because we don't have the money to keep it number 1 in the world and worse, we are increasingly dependent on foreign made parts in our planes, tanks and weapon systems. The biggest supplier being China.

The Election is in front of us and literally no one but few candidates even hint at these issues and what needs to be done to turn our fortunes around. The voters must force a dialogue on these issues not on political correctness or social issues. The world is a significantly more dangerous place and turmoil is extreme as a result of a complete lack of leadership in Washington DC, and is set on a course to get even worse.